Just one more Council leadership post left to fill

THE PIECES of the City Council leadership puzzle are falling into place, yet the race for one remaining spot continues.

Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. has lined up the necessary eight votes - a majority of the party - to become Council's next majority whip, the third-in-command behind the Council president and majority leader.

Recently, Darrell Clarke secured his position as Council's next president following a long behind-the-scenes battle against Mayor Nutter's pick, Marian Tasco, and a late surge by dark-horse candidate Jim Kenney.

Council members in leadership positions work with the Council president to help direct legislation, and hold a certain amount of sway on committee appointments.

Jones joined Team Clarke last month, and sources said he was promised a spot in leadership.

"It has always been my opinion it's less about who and more about what can be done more for taxpayers," said Jones, elected to Council in 2007.

Councilman Wilson Goode Jr., who has known Jones for 25 years and describes him as a consensus-builder, said: "I believe that with nine members being elected since 2007, it has been a turnover in City Council significant not just this year, but in the last two elections. There needs to be at least one of these members elected to a leadership position because obviously Council has changed over."

Meanwhile, other members continue to jockey for the final open slot: majority leader. Clarke reportedly promised Blackwell that post, but it's not clear how many votes she has. Members Maria Quinones-Sanchez, Blondell Reynolds Brown and Bill Greenlee have their sights set on the spot, too.